Back in the USA
Back in the US (in Brooklyn) and here are some first impressions, including self-critique:
1. Northwest Airlines sucks and it has the crankiest service crossing the Pacific. Is this because I have been completely immersed in the hyperconsumerist social order of Taiwan, which makes US airlines look like East German state monopolies?
2. The paranoia of airport security does not serve security interests. Why? Because they had to X-Ray Leo's giant stuffed baby alligator twice because it wasn't photographed correctly the first time. Not only is this a waste of time, I think that doing it "by the book" actually causes airport security employees to lose all initiative and intuition. Following the rules replaces "thinking on your feet." To remain alert, airport security should be able to use their intelligence -- blue baby alligators carried by four year olds should be X-rayed only once. But perhaps I am out of touch with the threat posed by these plush toys.
3. Yes, people are much bigger on this side of the Pacific. I feel downright slim. (Is weight relative?)
More to come soon -
And just as a footnote, the No to the European Constitution looks remarkably like a populist revolt against Europe's rulers, but the revolt spans left and right and has enormous reactionary potential.
1. Northwest Airlines sucks and it has the crankiest service crossing the Pacific. Is this because I have been completely immersed in the hyperconsumerist social order of Taiwan, which makes US airlines look like East German state monopolies?
2. The paranoia of airport security does not serve security interests. Why? Because they had to X-Ray Leo's giant stuffed baby alligator twice because it wasn't photographed correctly the first time. Not only is this a waste of time, I think that doing it "by the book" actually causes airport security employees to lose all initiative and intuition. Following the rules replaces "thinking on your feet." To remain alert, airport security should be able to use their intelligence -- blue baby alligators carried by four year olds should be X-rayed only once. But perhaps I am out of touch with the threat posed by these plush toys.
3. Yes, people are much bigger on this side of the Pacific. I feel downright slim. (Is weight relative?)
More to come soon -
And just as a footnote, the No to the European Constitution looks remarkably like a populist revolt against Europe's rulers, but the revolt spans left and right and has enormous reactionary potential.
2 Comments:
Northwest Airlines DOES suck. Have you heard about (did I tell you this already?) their employment ads for mechanics while they are in negotiations with the mechanics union? That's just one little piece.
It is a GREAT image - four year old Leo with his giant blue baby stuffed alligator having to be x-rayed twice. Maybe you could use that in some kind of advertisement for something.
I flew on December 23rd, 2006 with Northwest airlines. Upon arriving at the counter I was informed that I could not be permitted to carry any luggage onto the plane. I informed the woman at the counter that I had my laptop in the bag and that I would be worried about it breaking if being checked.
I was informed that the laptop would be OK and that I would have nothing to worry about. The laptop was in a carry-on luggage bag surrounded by clothes a pillow which is how I usually fly. I figured she was right and checked it.
Upon arriving at my destination I checked out my laptop to find that they had shattered the screen and busted the wheels off my luggage as well.
When I called Northwest Airlines, I was informed that nothing is covered under damaged luggage policies. I was then told to see some woman named Susan at Bloomington, IL's Airport when I arrived home. When I did I had a prepared speech stating that there was no way that one of her employees would have told me this and that she would not process any claim to get the screen on my laptop fixed.
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